Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-26
PORT BALLONA.
The Great HarbOr Of the
Future.
BOSTON AND BALLONA.
What is Doing and What Is 10 De
Done in Railroad and
Docks.
PORT BALLONA.
BOSTON AND BALLONA,

On. Sunday last HERALD reporter
tools n drive to the new harbor at old La
Bailopa slough. The day was inspiring
az conld be found on the face OF the
green earth that January day. There
was lust enough edge to the air to make
an overcoat comfortable until about 10
O'Clock. when the increasing heat of the
suns rays smiled the outer wrap off
even teuderfoot.
Just beyond the ranch of Andrew
Jaughin, on the old Rosencrantz
tract, the red flags Of the rail.
road people were encountered, where
the line is located From there to the
city all is still uncertain as to the route.
The only fixed fact is that the terminus
will reach the new depot grounds of
the Atlantic and Pacific system at the
foot OF First street. At the point noted
first above and directly adjoining the
place of Captain Clark, there has heen
laid out new town site, to be known
as Hyde Park. The place is most de-
lightfully situated on gentle slope.
Behind it rises Il range OF low hills,
which breaks off the harsh winds from
the ocean on such few occasions as these
blow in this most mild of climates.
Standing on the plain where the town
is to be, one is surprised to sec now
great a space of territory is taken in by
the eve. The rich vineyards and
orchards west Of the city lie
in the foreground, in the middle dis
tance the entire ei.y OF Los Angeles is
distinctly visible, while in the distance
loom up the ranges Of the mountains,
with tho great peaks of Sau Antonio,
Sau Gorgonio and San Jacinto rising into
the blue sky. The ink on the maps of
the town is scarcely dry yet, but nearly
all the lots are sold. There has been a
great scramble to get il on bedrock
prices, by those who hope i'll the history
of Monrovia to see repeated or eclipsed
here.
Arrived at the orchard of Mr.. ID.
Freeman, the end of the grade was met.
Here little over five miles from the
beach, Mr.. w. h. Lswis has got the
roadbed ready for the ties and iron.
The line runs to the right Of the orchard
as one goes from here.
like benson from the heavens. Below
lay the sea with scarce ripple on its
surface, which was as blue as indigo.
The sky bent above it, cloudless; mild
and loving. "A gentle air famed the
shore, bearing ozone and health i'll un.
limited measure to all the life on land.
There is not much of "a city here by
the sea SO far. The lagoon was filled
with wild fowl by the thousand, and
hundreds of thousands. These had in
vaded the barley lands of Mr.. Freeman
above the bluff and were playing havoc
with the crops of this most enterprising
granger who plows his land and sows
his seed whether the weather is wet or
dry.
Lewis l. Gassen have put up the first
building where the city is to be. Here
the gang at work ON the harbor and road
are fed, and those who go down from
the city on Sunday or week day can get
a very nice luncb---any thing you want,
and Mt moments notice. Mr.. Lewis
has 55 teams working away with will
grading the road.
On the Saturday just previous to this
visit, the pile driver and engine to work
on the harbor had arrived at the beach,
and were in place ready to begin opera.
tions as soon as the timber gets in.
There was vessel in the offing on Sun
day which all were sure had the piles on
her. 1t turned out otherwise, but in
few days, at the latest, she may be
looked for.
A channel had been cut from the long
land locked lagoon into the ocean, and
as it was ebb tide the water was running
out like mill race. Mr.. Campbell, the
Superintendent WAS on the spot and
explained the purposes of the company
of which he is the conceiver the con-
coctor, the promoter the organizer and
all the rest. In this cut piles will be
driven making channel 200 feet wide
from the lagoon out to deep water This
will require piling out 900 feet into the
ocean. Inside the lagoon will be
dredged out 500 feet wide, and for a
distance of 1000 feet. Most of
this will be to the west OF
the channel. East of this there is
an end of some 500 feet perhaps. The
tracks of the railroad will run down one
side of this, pass round the end of it,
and come up on the other side on the
peninsula between the ocean and the |
westward the tracks will be run along |
side the docks, which will align tho !
harbor. A great expanse of platforms
will lie along the tracks and wharves
where the ships from all the parts where
the winds blow, and Ito cars iron. the
furthest e.stern city are 70 come to.
eethef with their costly argosies of
goods. In few weeks the dredgers
will come. They work on the suction
principle. They will be furnished with
twenty inch pipes, and the dirt will be
pumped across into the lagoon the other
side of the hills, SO as to fill it up. On
this made ground the car shops and Off
ces of the company will stand.
A big bluff lies along this, cutting Oft
the ocean winds, and sheltering all in
side from violent weather. Outside in
the long harbor there is room to dock
100 ships. Inside dockage can be made
for oil the shipping in the world. Here
ia the finest place in the world for dry
docks, Above the bluff is the townsite.
Here are views unsurpassed. To the west
lie Santa Monica, and the whole skirt OF
fertile ranches in the foot hills to Cahu.
ago Pass. The eye passes around to
the north point Of the compass, taking
in the city of Los Angeles. Out at sea,
the blue hills of Santa Catalina island,
rise out of the blue sea,
and merge in the blue skies,
with lust sufficient contrast of tint to
outline the one from the other. On
these hills the company will in o short
time Law out the future city, and when
once laid out it will grow apace. AS we
stood and looked at the inception of
these great works. and thought of the
Santa Fe Railway system, which here is
to find its outlet to the sea, the thought
was natural and was no doubt aided by
the alliteration-Boston and Ballona, as
+hn oroot +oru;nol noints of the com.